Bloomfield beowee



(No-Model.)

' B. BROWBR.

PAPER KNIFE.

No. 260,157. Patented June 27, 1882.

her. Wash' UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

BLOOMFIELD BROWER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PAPER-KNI FE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 260,157, dated June 27, 1882.

Application filed January 18,1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BLOOMEIELD BRowEE, a citizen of the `United States, residing in the city of New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Knives, fully described and represented in the following speciication and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to that.class of implements which are especially adapted for use in severing sheets of paper upon a line of fold, cutting the leaves ot' books, magazines, &c.,

opening envelopes, and the like, and which are known to the trade as paper-knives.77

In said drawings, Figures l and 2 are respectively side and plan views of a paperknife embodying the present invention. Fig. 3 is a side View, partly in section, of a similar knife, the blade and handle of which are made in separate pieces.

The knife shown in Figs. l and 2 is made from a single piece or strip of lthin metal, one end being tapered to a point and made thin at the edges toform the blade 1, and the other end bent, as shown, so as to form the raised handle 2 and the guide or rest 3, the handle being sufcently raised to allow the fingers of the user to lie beneath it, and at the same time permit the blade to remain substantially flat uponA or parallel with the top of the desk or table. .The bend in the metal at the point 4 may be such that when the guide 3 and the point 4 rest upon the table or desk the point of the blade will be slightly elevated, as shown in Figs. l and 3. The slight elevation thus given to the point of the blade is a feature of great convenience when the paper or envelope to be cut is lying flat upon a desk or table. In such a case the knife resting upon the portions 3 and 4 will be slid along the surface on which the paper is lying, and the elevation of the point of the blade will enable it to readily enter between the plies of the paper, whereas if the blade extended straight from thc handle the point would rest upon the ltable and pass under the paper.

When the knife-handle is made, as in the construction shown in Fig. l, of springy metal it is not necessary that the point should stand at an elevation, as shown, as it can be elevated at any time, when desired, by pressing downward upon the. handle. The spring of the metal will in such case throw the point upward.

As will readily be seen, when the point ot'- the blade is elevated, either by pressure upon the handle or by reason of the bend of the metal at the point 4, the knife can be rocked or tilted upon the point 4, which will enable the user to guide the point of the blade accurately. This elevation of the point of the blade is also of especial convenience in opening envelopes. The envelope being laid fiat, address' side down, upon the table, the point of the blade will readily enter beneath the seal-flap, and as the knife is moved along to cut the envelope the upward inclination of the point of the blade will keep it away from and prevent its cutting the inclosure.

The guide or rest 3 may be provided with a hole, as shown in Fig. 2, to afford a ready means for hanging up the knife when not in use.

In Fig. -3 a modified construction is shown, in which the handle and blade are made in separate pieces and united in any convenient manner at the point 4, as shown in the ligure referred to. In this construction the handle may be made of cast metalsuch as iron or bronze-while the blade is of steel.

An implement of the construction described is also convenient for use as a stabber77 to perforate papers which are to be fastened together by the ordinary brass paper-fasteners.

What I claim is- 1. A paper-knife having a raised handle and bearing-points, as 3 4, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto setmy hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BLOOMFIELD BROWER.-

Witnesses:

' l. H. PALMER, J. A. HooEY. 

